Charles a



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Modl.)

G. A. LITTLEPIELD.

SHUTTLE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Patented Janis, 1889.,

ESEEE.

u. PETERS. PhokrLiihngnpher. Wuhingion, n. c

(No Model.)

2, Sheets-Sheet 2..

G. A. LITTLEPIELD.

SHUTTLE OPERA-TING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. No. 395,842.

Patented Jan. 8

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UNITED TATES ATENT' rrrcn.

CHARLES A. LITTLEFIELD, OF FALL RIVER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELIAS A.TUTTLE AND JAMES T. MILNE, OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE=OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,842, dated January8, 1889.

Application filed November 1, 1887. Serial No. 253,954. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. LITTLE- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShuttle-Op crating Mechanism for Looms; and Idohereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The so-called parallel foot-motions for looms in common use at thepresent time with which I am acquainted in their practical working donot move the picker in a fixed line. The reason of this is that the footor rockerresting upon the pedestal upon which it works as thepicking-stick moves back and forth in its movement to drive the shuttleand its return has no direct and positive connection therewith, thuspermitting the foot and stick to rise or jump from the foot-rest uponthe pedestal when the picking-cam strikes the blow which drives theshuttle across to the opposite shuttle-box. It is well known that thespeed at which a loom maybe run is more or less decreased by the lack ofmeans to properly receive and check the shuttle in its rapid flightfrombox to box, thereby fixing a limit of speed lower than desirable atwhich it can be safely run. In running at high speed there is frequentand continuous trouble encountered in what is known as throwing orstripping filling from the shuttle-spindle, thereby causing serious lossin prepared yarns, stoppage of looms, &c. This results from the toosudden checking of the shuttle in its flight. It is a well-known factthat the power required to run a loom is not continuously consumed whileit is in motion, the larger part of the power being consumed while theloom is in the act of st arting and driving the shuttle from the box.

The object of this invention is, first, to provide a foot-motion thatshall always, when made in accordance with these specifications, movethe picker in a fixed line when driving the shuttle; second, to providea frictioncheck. that can be so adjusted as to hold the picker inposition to receive the shuttle at some distance from the end of g thebox and that shalloffer such resistance to the movement of the shuttleas shall bring the shuttle to a state of rest when it has fully enteredthe box, thereby saving in a great measure sudden shocks to the shuttleand the picker, with which it comes in contact, and affording aneffective substitute for the check-straps and other checking devices nowin use; third, to provide means whereby the shuttle in its flight isbrought to a stop by degrees, so that the filling will not be thrown orstripped from the spindle; fourth, to provide shuttle-checking devicesthat shall allow the loom to be run with a comparatively open box,thereby doing away with a large amount of power nowrequired to start theshuttle when closely wedged therein.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a front view of a loom-frame with my invention placedthereon, other and unnecessary parts being omitted. Fig. 2 is a faceview of my improved foot-motion and shuttle-check. Fig. 3 is a rear viewof the same, showing the ratchet and pawl when in position to receivethe shuttle. Fig. 4 is a section on linertxof Fig. 2 of the drawings,parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line .2 zof Fig. 3, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is an outside end viewof the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to similar parts through-- out the several drawings.

In Fig. 1 the loom-frame A, with its sides A A, lay B, lay-swords B B,picking-sticks a and a, lay rock-shaft c, meshing-gears C C, cam-shaftF, cams F and F", pickingarms f and f rock-shafts 1' 1', picking-bowls7L and i, are all such as are common to many different kinds of looms,and are arranged in the usual well-known manner.

At each end of the lay rock-shaft c is secured a stock, G, by means of asocket or sleeve upon the said stock fitting upon the end of the layrock-shaft and clamped in place by a set-screw, 7c, or the stock may beapplied and secured in place upon the said rock-shaft in any othersuitable and convenient manner.

Upon one side of the stock G is formed a hub Lil with a nose, I, whichrests upon the upper side i of the cam-formed portion 5 on one arm ol alever, g, pivoted to a pin, p, on an upward extension or arnu p, ot' thestock G. The upper arm of the lever g has pivoted to it one end of alink, G", which at its opposite end is pivoted to the stock It. L isheld in contact with the emu-formed portion g of the leverg 1 iv meansof a strap, 1, t'astened at one end to a stuthj, adjustahly secured in aslot, 7', in The lever l1, and secured usual swell or hinder ot' theshuttle-hex from at the other end to a harrel, 0' mounted on a pin, '1',on the stock G, and containing a spring, 0, which tends to rotate thebarrel and wind the strap Z upon its exterior.

It dcsirml, a spring of any other convenitmt form may he connected withthe lever L to hold its nose I against the cam-lm-med portion g.

The operation of the devices so far d cscrihcd is simple and ohvious,and is as follows: As the picker-stick is drawn inward to throw theshuttle, motion is imparted to the lever (1 through the link(:illli\'ll]gt 11(5 cannli'ormed portion g to act upon the noseland movethe lever L. The canntormed portion 9 is formed, as shown, with a riseat its middleportion and a tall or downward incline on each sidethereof, and as it moves against: the nose? it serves to grad ualldepress the outer end of the lever L and the picker-stick duringthefirst portion of the movement of the ])l(:l O1.'-Sl lCl while d uringthe remainder of the movement of the picker-stick the latter ispermitted gradually to rise. By this means 1 positively insure amovement oi. the upper end of the pickerstick and the pickercarricdtherch in a horizontal straight line, it?- hcing iu'lpossihle .t'or theparts to jump or otherwlse 'im' ve,so as to cause a departure [from thesaid line.

A highly impmrtant advantage of the construction shown is that duringthe movement of the picker-stick while driving the shuttle, after theapex of the cam-formed portion g has passed the point of the nose I, andthe latter has reached one of The dtuvngrades of the cam-formed portion,the spring 0 assists the action of the picking-cam, imparting anadditional and gradually-inereasing impulse to the pioken, ick justhefore the shuttle leaves the picker and flies from its hex. At the sametime the action of the spring 0 in causing the nose Z to bear upon thedowngrade 01: the cam-formed portion g of the lever g is such as toneutralize the increased tension ol. the spring q, occasioned hy thestretching thercolf as the upper end of the The nose I of the leverpiekmr-stiek moves inward. l' arrest the outward movement of thepicker-stick before the picker-stick has entirely reached the outerlimit of such movement, and hold it; in a yielding manner, so as tocause it to receive the shuttle in its flight across the loom from thehoX on the opposite side and gradually check and destroy its movement.This cuahlcs me to dispense wit h the great pressure ordinarily appliedto the sides of the shuttle to check its momentum as it enters the shutTle-hox, and prevents the stripping of the cop, heretofore frequentlyoccasioned by the sudden arrest ol' the shuttle at the end of its flightacross the loom. The reduction in the pressure applied to the shuttle inthe hex enahles the shuttle to he thrown with a much less expenditure ofpower, and renders unnecessary the employment of the relief mechanismheretofore devised and employed for the purpose of removing the pressureof the the shuttle just prior to effecting the pick.

My devices for stopping the picker-stick and holding it in the yieldingmanner are as follows: The holt m, which passes through the huh orsleeve m on the stock t, receives upon it on the rear side of the stock(It a ratchet-wheel, ll, on each side oli which is placed a disk orwasher, 12, of cloth, leather, or other ll llClllOll-(ilOttll11gnntterial. Against the outer washer or disk, n, is applied a metallicwasher, a, and upon the threaded end of the bolt is turned a nut, n",serving to press the wheel ll and washers 22 into close contact, alook-nut, n, preferablybeing employed in additiomasshown in liig. 5.Preferahly, the side of the wheel ll is recessed, as shown in fltig. 5,to receive one of the washers n and a circular enlargement or huh on thestock (l. A pawl, m", is pivoted upon. the side of the lever The lengthof. the teeth upon the wheel II and the point at; which the pawl in" ispivoted to the lUXOl g are such that as the picker-stick is moved inwardto throwthe shuttle the pawl m is moved a distance such as to carry itover one tooth upon the wheel ill, hut not quite to the end olf theFollowing tooth.

In uactioe l have found it ex iedicnt to so construct and adjust theparts as to occasion a movement of the pawl upon the wheel II a distanceequal to the length ol one tooth and threc-fourths ot' the length of Thefollowing tooth.

The enlarged head of the pin or holtm' serves to hold the lever L inplace upon. the hub or sleeve m. The pin p passes through a verticalslot, p, in. the arm p of the stock G, and is :uljustahly securet'l inposition by the nut 13. In operation after the throw of the shuttle thepieker-stiek will he arrested. in its movement toward the outwardextremity ot' theshuttle-hox hy the engagement of the pawl with. a toothot' the ratehet-whecl and will he held. therehy at a short distance fromthe end of the hex. Al'ter the shuttle lIO has entered the box at theend of its flight from the box on the opposite side of the loom it willstrike against the picker and carry the latter and the upper end of thepicker-stick outward with it. The retardation of the rotation of theratchet-wheel occasioned by the friction-creating devices, however, willcause the stick to resist the advance of the shuttle and thus bring thelatter to a state of rest without undue shock.

Having described my invention and the best means with which I amacquainted for reducing it to practice, I claim as my invention 1. Thecombination, with the picker-stick, a wheel, and devices forfrictionally retarding the rotation of said wheel, of a pawl connectedwith the said picker-stick and adapted to engage with the wheel in theoutward movement of the picker-stick, the picker-stick being therebystopped in the outward movement and held at a slight distance from theextreme end of the said movement and in position to receive the shuttleand check it in its flight from the opposite box, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with the picker-stick,

of a wheel, devices for retarding the rotation thereof, and a pawlconnected with the said picker-stick, the said pawl during the inwardmovement of the pickerstick moving over more than one tooth on the saidwheel, but not far enough to engage with the following tooth, and thecombination being and operating substantially as described, whereby theoutward movement of the picker-stick is arrested by the engagement ofthe pawl with the tooth of the wheel passed over by the pawl, and thepicker-stick is held in position to receive the shuttle. I

23. The combination, with the picker-stick, of the pawl-carryin g leverconnected thereto, a wheel and devices for retarding the rotationthereof, the combination being and operating substantially as described,whereby during the increased movement of the picker-stick the pawl ismoved a distance sufficient to carry it over more than one tooth on thewheel, but not far enough to engage with the following tooth, andwhereby the outward movement of the picker-stick is arrested by theengagement of the pawl with the tooth of the wheel passed over by thepawl, and the pickerstick is held in position to receive the shuttle.

et. The combination, with the picker-stick, of the link G, the lever g,pawl m wheel H, and devices for frictionally retarding the rotation ofsaid wheel, the said pawl during the inward movement of the picker-stickmoving over more than one tooth on the said wheel, but not far enough toengage with the following tooth, and the outward movement of thepicker-stick being arrested by engagement of the pawl with the toothpassed over by the pawl, and the picker-stick held in position toreceive the shuttle, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the picker-stick and its holder or stock, ofthe lever on one end of which said holder or stock is pivoted, and alever connected with the stock or holder and having a cam-formed portionengaging with the said lever, substantially as described, whereby theupper end of the picker-stick is caused to move in a horizontal straightline.

(5. The combination, with the picker-stick and its holder or stock, of asupporting-lever on which said holder or stock is pivoted, a secondlever connected with the holder or stock and provided with a cam-formedportion acting upon said supporting-lever, and a spring for holding thesupporting-lever in contact with the cam portion of the second lever,substantially as described, whereby the upper end of the picker-stick iscaused to move in a horizontal straight line.

7. The combination, with the stock G and the lever L, of the lever g,connected with said stock and provided with the cam portion 9, and thespring 0, connected with the said lever L, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the stock it and the supportiug-lever L, of thelever g, connected with the said stock and provided with the cam-formedportion g, the spring 0, connected with the supporting-lever L, the pawlm the ratchet-wheel H, and devices for frictionally retarding therotation of the said wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. LITTLEFIELD.

'itnesses:

THOS. T. BRADY, JAMES T. MILNE.

